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Story summary
- Russia’s forces will not seize the remaining Donetsk Oblast by Dec. 31, 2026.
- Institute for the Study of War reports Russian troops advanced only 2.36 sq km per day in Aug. 2026.
- At that pace, Russia would need until Oct. 2, 2032 to capture the remaining 19 % of Donetsk.
- Russian troops have not entered Sloviansk, Kramatorsk or Druzhkivka, the Fortress Belt’s key cities.
